Former NHL officials allege they were fired for being whistle-blowers on racism

[chemgear]

https://www.tsn.ca/former-nhl-off-ic...cism-1.1744305


“Despite Plaintiffs’ opposition and multiple instances of protected activity, [the NHL] did nothing to stop the racially discriminatory comments that were broadcast to its employees and crew every night on its communication system and in the booth shared by the off-ice officials,” the lawsuit says. “Instead, only after being confronted with video evidence of the wrongful behaviour, [the NHL] terminated DeLorenzo and Brace, and then terminated the whistleblowers, including Plaintiffs Walkowiak and Watkins.”


https://deadspin.com/it-was-a-very-n...nhl-1848344983


Dave Walkowiak and James Watkins were off-ice officials who worked Lightning games in Tampa, claiming that Pat DeLorenzo Jr. — a fellow off-ice official — continually made racist remarks about players, coaches, the national anthem singer at Amalie Arena, and just about anyone who came across his path.

“DeLorenzo also regularly made racially offensive comments about African Americans,” the lawsuit reads, and often referred to black people as “n*****s.”

The two officials repeatedly reported DeLorenzo to their supervisor, Ron Brace, and watched nothing happen. Deadspin has reached out to Brace for comment.

They also claim that the NHL’s lawyer ordered that tape destroyed after the league finally fired DeLorenzo, but then it also fired Wolkowiak and Watkins. This is the scorched-earth tactic of solving any problem.

The second kicker is it’s not the only lawsuit that’s been filed because of DeLorenzo. A Laurence P. Sullivan also sued the league after being fired, for what he said was reporting DeLorenzo. His case was settled.

[keenan87]

This is just disgusting at this point... At what point does the NHL take real action on this instead of the constant reactive bandaid solutions.

I would guess a few people get fired and then back to business. The NHL is rotten to its' core it seems.

[Kipper_3434]

Wat...his case was settled? Did the NHL lawyers forget to draft up an NDA?

[topfiverecords]

Didn’t expect to read that this took place in 2020. How could anyone think that was acceptable and going to go ignored.

[Roughneck]

Distler and Watson later contacted Walkowiak after speaking with Watkins, the lawsuit says, adding both plaintiffs were worried they might be fired for reporting the incidents.

“[Walkowiak and Watkins] knew that a recent previous female off-ice official from another city was terminated by [the NHL] shortly after reporting sexual harassment at work,” the lawsuit says.
---

Quite the culture the NHL is building.

[Boreal]

Originally Posted by keenan87

This is just disgusting at this point... At what point does the NHL take real action on this instead of the constant reactive bandaid solutions.

I would guess a few people get fired and then back to business. The NHL is rotten to its' core it seems.

It will take real action when hiring, scouting, protecting, enabling & developing players and personnel shifts from being predominantly being based on cronyism towards predominantly being based on merit.

[Eric Vail]

When seeing how Bettman treated Rich Westhead at the press conference after the whole thing with Kyle Beach came out, I can totally believe he fired whistle blowers over a racist issue.

The NHL should have moved on from Bettman a long time ago.

[taxbuster]

Originally Posted by Eric Vail

When seeing how Bettman treated Rich Westhead at the press conference after the whole thing with Kyle Beach came out, I can totally believe he fired whistle blowers over a racist issue.

The NHL should have moved on from Bettman a long time ago.

He makes the 31 (now 32) old, mostly white, mostly billionaire, owners a pisspot full of money. They aren't moving him (and didn't in the past) for that exact reason. They don't give a tinker's damn about the rest of it as long as the cash flows.